20 Bad Books To Give To Young Kids

(Image via Harper and Row)

9. The Giving Tree

The little boy in The Giving Tree is a real jerk. There. I said it.

Though it’s wonderfully illustrated by Shel Silverstein, it has become an incredibly divisive book. Some people think it’s a great, kid-friendly tale about selflessness, while others think it’s a gussied-up depiction of an abusive relationship.

The book tells the story of a little boy and a female apple tree. During the early years of their relationship, the boy is content to merely play with the tree. However, as he ages, he begins asking more and more from the tree.

First, he wants money. The tree suggests that he pick her apples and sell them. Then, he wants a house. The trees tells him to cut off her branches so he has wood to build a home for himself. He comes back and tells the tree that he now wants a boat, so the giving tree allows him to cut down her trunk for more wood. At each stage, the book states, “and the tree was happy”.

Now, the tree is only a stump. The boy, now an old man, wanders back and the tree is forced to tell him that she has nothing left to give. However, the man now wants only a quiet place to sit and rest. The tree obliges.

Is this a heartwarming story, or a veiled illustration of abuse? I’ll leave it up to you to decide, but you might want to start a conversation about healthy relationships with your kid once you’ve read them The Giving Tree.